Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-01-06

enjoying themselves There d alwayS
. great expectation Of something mar
vellously delightful at Christmas; what.
We never quite knew; but we do ex-
pect it every year. and every year We
feel just as disappointed. as we have
done ever since the death of the DAYS
when the delight took form in the re-
ceipt OF a new doll or top, and too
much to eat.
The Major had worked himself into
q state OF savage despair over his DIFF
ferent woes. and was almost weeping
for sorrow for himself, waen he sud-
denly saw Edith coming toward him.
That wretched invalid-as tine Major
termed poor Mr.. Scott-was not with
her, and she was walking very slowly.
with her mouth set in a determined
manner that told any one who knew
her that she had made up her mind to
do a disagreeable duty, and thar moth
ing would deter her from doing what
she intended. How sweet she looked
as she came through the straight, red
stemmed pine trees. through which
the blue sky cleaned. and the white
clouds seemed TO play hide-and-seek!
Then she came out of the pines. and
along the edge of the cliffs. In one
moment the scene had changed. Her
foot slipped on the grassy pine needles
blcwn down by the storm, she threw
up her hands and disappeared on the
edge of the cliff that all at once gave
way. and, crumbling like a piece Of
sand, eurneG to go in an avalanche
after ker. The Major forgot his ILL
ness. forgot every thing. save that his
loved Edith, and that she was dead;
and. jumping up from the couch that
for five months he had never left ex-
cept to be carried to his sofa OF bed,
dashed forward a, once to rescue his
darlings remains, or perish in the at
tempt
If he lives to hundred he will never
forget the moment of agony he spent
before he reached the place where
Edith had disappeared, and could look
over and see where she was. Every
cruel word he had ever spoken to her.
every syllable ct reproach he had
back to him, and he could almost have
shrieked aloud to Heaven for help.
when he suddenly saw Edith face ris-
ing over the cliffs. He stood motion.
less; then he rushed forward. and with
out one word. drew her hands in his.
and dragged her forcibly up to level
with him. Then he looked over: no
harm was done. The soft red earth
had crumbled little. and slid a short
distance down towards the sea. but in
so gentle decline that child could
not have becn hurt in the least, and
all Edith had aad to do was to turn.
and, with small detriment to any
thing save her garments, climb back
again to terra flrma.
THANK God for the landslip!" said
the Major. after the first explanations
were over. and Edith having heard all
his story and told hers in return, had
consented to take up again her twisted
threads of life. and make the best of
what was left them both. '.lf it had
not been for seeing you go owe: the
cliff, l should never have spoken to
you again.
''Oh. yes. you would!' said Edith.
as she slyly took his hand in hers;
'.for I could not stand the idea of it
being Christmas, and you all alone and
sad. And, when was coming toward
you. was going slowly in order to
make up my mind exactly what to call
you. Frank seemed dead to me; Major
was not my old friend. and
Francis. seemed as if wanted to be Sc.
vere-and l did not. l only wanted to
make you happy, and see the smiles l
knew so well return. forgot every
thing. Frank, except that I loved sou.
and that YOU were in trouble"
And, lift ng up her face to his, she
gave him the first kiss she had given
him for eight long, weary years. Then
down in the valley the bells
began to ring. and the sound came on
the breeze through the pine trees ia q
cadence.
Good bye to the Invalids' Corner
for me-" said the Major. THAT
doctor would have kept me
month on my back. but you
can see for yourself now well am"
And. indeed. when that wretcheh
invalid came out to sit in the sunshine
when the mist had disappeared, ex-
pecting to find Edith. as usual. ready
to read to him. he was electrified &c
see her walking to meet him. leaning
lovingly on the arm of the other hab
tue Of the Invalids' Corner.